Please listen to Vermont on gun ownership

“It won’t happen, but it is nice to dream,” were the words of good friend and Vermont outdoor writer Ed Hall.

Hall agrees with what he terms “sensible gun registration.”

I nearly fell off my dunce stool that I sit on during regular intervals, when I read that first paragraph that he backed gun registration. Like many citizens he feels that it could lead to only criminals having guns as nations such as World War II Nazi German, Russia, China, and other nations that operated under strict gun control had used it as a major step in subjugating its citizens.

Ah, but as I read on, came the dawn over Marblehead, the registration fee would be $500 and would bill those who did not own guns.

It sounds farfetched but listen to former Vermont State Rep. Fred Maslack who studied the Second Amendment to the Constitution as well as Vermont’s own laws.

In a nutshell, Maslack is saying that a strong militia is ordained in the amendment and thus citizenry under law should be armed.

But computer research turned up the fact that Maslack made the proposal in 2000 and it did not float.

The recent web hokey pokey “hit” would have you believe that the measure was just proposed.

The comments on the recent release of old stuff were intriguing to say the least.

Let’s use Maslack’s alleged words when he originally proposed the ‘non-gun’ owners registration bill.

He interpreted the amendment, and best consider it before saying “ridiculous.”

The Second Amendment. was not only affirming the right of the individual citizen to bear arms, but as a clear mandate to do so.

Attempts to reach the former state rep to verify his 2000 original bill and his comments on the recent fake release have failed. But the thought was so unique as was his interpretation of the Second Amendment that I’ll continue the search for him.

While the latest web hit is bogus, it certainly revives the original bill proposal and sure provides some new food for thought. A Nordic country not only makes all citizens part of their militia, they are trained once a year and have their weapons in their homes. Oh, yes, their crime rate is among the lowest in the world

Maslack believed universal gun ownership was advocated by the framers of the Constitution as an antidote to a “monopoly of force” by the government as well as criminals’ intent.

He said originally that Vermont’s Constitution states, “the people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the State” and those persons who are “conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms” shall be required to “pay such equivalent.”

He originally indicated said Vermonters have a constitutional obligation to arm themselves, so that they are capable of responding to “any situation that may arise.”

Under the Maslack measure, adults who choose not to own a firearms would be required to register their name, address, Social Security number, and driver’s license number with the state.

“There is a legitimate government interest in knowing who is not prepared to defend the state should they be asked to do so,’ he said.

Chew on this for a moment. Maslack was alleged in the recent hit to declare Vermont already boasts a high rate of gun ownership along with the least restrictive laws of any state, and it is currently the only state that allows a mentally fit and law abiding citizens to carry a concealed firearm without a permit.

The result of so many armed law abiding citizens is Vermont having the third lowest crime rate in the nation.

The recent report attributed to Maslack is also important because it should caution all of us that the net is loaded with bogus things expertly disguised as the real McCoy. I would have bitten for it, except it didn’t ring right.

TURKEY SHOOTS: Pioneer Valley Sportsmen’s Club turkey shoots will start Feb. 28 and continue until March 28 at the Sykes Avenue, West Springfield grounds with registration starting at noon.

COYOTE ON CAMERA: Doc Filinowich forwarded pictures of coyotes sitting in his daughter’s back yard in Chicopee. They are excellent photos and hopefully we can run a couple here.

The fact that these potentially dangerous small dog and cat eaters might step up the food chain is frightening. Here is a paradox for you; in Framingham a pack of coyotes attacked a small dog in a thickly settled neighborhood. Several coyotes were shot by local officials raising a hue and cry among some, apparently those in favor of coyotes over children. The “some” in my book need a little ‘couch time.’ Five or six pups are born to each female. There have been three attacks on humans, two were rabid and one was accustomed to being excepted by humans, a no-no of the highest order.

COUGAR ON CAMERA: A reader has forwarded a photo of what only could be a cougar, catamount, panther, mountain lion. We are in the process right now of trying to enhance the pic.

PROBLEM CREATORS: Bill Hardie is the major voice for trappers in this state and what it means to conservation and animal health.

How about these apples – Bill who has been trapping since 1955, said the anti’s approved the Bailey trap, which is set on a stump completely surrounded by water. The problem is the dangerous trap is available to children as the water freezes, ice, kids and dogs have easy access. Those that approved the trap on basis of it being surrounded by water must have been struck by lightning when they were caught in a ‘dunder’ storm.

GUN SHOWS: Outdoor Promotion Gun shows will be held today at the town American Legion Post, 129 Main St., White River Junction, Vt., and at the Fireside Inn, West Lebanon, N.H. from 9 to 2.

GOOD COD!: Capt. Brad Glas of Hel-Cat II reports cod are hitting hard with a keep ration close to three to one. He said that while the fish have not been really big the are plenty in the 10 to 12 pound class. The boat sails weekend. Contact Glas at capt.glas@comcast.net.